Method of manufacturing sheave wheels



lm 4, 1944- W. ASHTON METHOD OF MANUFACTURINGSHEAVE WHEELS 2 sheets-sheet 1 la. .1 i.: imulf Filed March 28, 1942 Jan. 4, 1944. W. A. ASHTON 2,338,161 METHOD OF' MANUFACTURING SHEAVE WHEELS Filed Marh 28, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 4, 1944` f' mamon or william A. Ashton, ratsam-gn,- Pa., assigner :e

Carnegieelllinois Steel Corporation, a corporation` of New-Jersey Application'ltiareh 28, i942', Serial No'. 438,688 m (ci. so-sm @manner -by the use of known types kof dies yand The present invention relatesv to an improved method for rapid manufacture oi' sheave wheels. An object of the invention is tofsimplify the method rof' manufacturing peripherally grooved 'sheavefwheels andat the Sametime to4 improve l the metal by subjecting the fibers of the periph- L eral groove'd portion to a'rolling 'operation in lorder to yb'ring'ab'out plastic lilow and render the metal inthe critical peripherall `zone of the sheave wheel more dense. and homogeneous than that of a cast wheel or of a wheel pressing or forging operations'. y

Aswill be more fully 'pointed out hereinafter,

the present invention contemplates'starting with a rough wheel blank of approximatelycylindril`cal form which is subjected to' a plurality of rough forging operations so as to transform the'cylin` drical blank to anfintermediate blank consisting of relatively thick hub and rim portionsconnected by a thinner web portion. latter blank is subjected yto'a rolling operation inv such `f a* way that the outer annular region of Ithe rim is confined so as toy prevent lateral 'plastic flow or movement of the metal beyond predetermined limits, while at the same time exerting rolling pressures on opposite'faces of the web and the inner annular faces of the rim, the blank being supported in a manner to permit rotation about an axis centered within the rim, and during the vaforesaid'steps forcing an annularmedian peripheral portion of the rim inwardly to form thefsheave groove while rotating the blank on itsy axis, whereby the metal structure, particularlyfin the rim region and outer peripheral refgion of the web, is rendered very dense, tough, and homogeneous because of such roll-forging operations. l

For a more complete and detailed disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through suitable apparatus usedin practicing the method of the present invention;

, Figure 2 is a view of' the starting blank from which the wheel is made; and

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sectional views illustrative of the condition of the blank and finished sheave wheel at different stages in the method. Referring to the drawings, in carrying out the method I first provide a substantially cylindrical blank illy of steel, wrought iron or the like, such .as shown in Figure 2. This blank is subjected to lforging operations in a somewhat conventional formed bysimple f* drop forging hammers so as to produce the blank of substantially `the configuration indicated at I2 in Figure 3. L

The forged' lblank i2 is `then subjected to a further forging operation so asto transform it into the cross sectional size and shape shown in Figure 4, where itis -seen that the blankfconsists of a relatively thick central hub portion I4 and a similar thick annular rim portion I6, the hu-b vand'rim portions being connected by an intere/i5-v mediate reiativ'ely'thinner web portion I8. Under the presenty invention, a blanksuch as shown in Figurefl is subjected to a special type of rolling treatment constituting an essential feature of novelty of the method claimed herein. This'treatment is-such that the wheel blank'is rotated on its axis while the outer region of the web.' the I outer peripherymf the'rim portion andthe side faces ofthe rim" portion are -all simultaneously subjected to rolling pressures and while this rolling `\is being accomplished, a median portion of the faceof the rimisy being forced inwardly so as'to form an annular groove and also densify the metal in the outer annular region of the sheave body.

To these ends the wheel blank is provided with an axial opening, indicated at 20 in Figure l, for engagement with an arbor or spindle 22 which is eifective to support the blank with freedom to rotate about theaxis 24. While the blank is rotated on its axis, the web thereof is subjected to rolling pressure exerted by the opposed double-coned rolls 26 and 28 carried by rotating spindies. 4and 32 mounted in suitable bearings u and 38. The rolls 26 and 28 aremounted on the extremities of respective roll necks 38 and 40, the outer ends of which are flanged and connected to conventional power driven rolling mill l elements I2 and 44.

' The specific rolling mill structure employed forms no part of the present invention and may be of conventional form, suchas that frequently used in the roll-forging of car wheels. Means such as indicated at 46 and 48 are provided with swivel joints for pressing the roll's 2B and '28 firmly againstthe blank being rolled.

It is a characteristic feature of the present invention to confine the annular rim portion of the blank during the rolling operation, and while the rim is so confined, to subject the annular body of rimvmetal to an inward rolling pressure which is counteracted by the rolling pressure exertedby the rolls 26 and 28. To secure this desirable action I utilize a backing ro11`50 formed with an annular groove 52 flanked by side flanges I4 and 50 which serve to coniine the outer faces of the wheel blankto thus prevent plastic flow or lateral movement of the rim metal beyond predetermined limits` The critical limits may be precalculated to suit the size of the particular sheave wheel rim to be formed.. While the rim metal of the wheel blank is thus confined, between the side flanges 54 and 56, it is also being subjected to an inward rolling pressure exerted jointly by an annular bead 58 formed on the backing roll 50 and the annular bearing faces 60 and B2 of the backing roll 50.

I'he backing member 60 is rotatably mounted on a center bearing 64, which is adjustably supported in arms 86 and 68 of a yoke-like member which includes a thrust rod 10 connected with power driven means effective to force the backing member 50 toward the wheel blank under treatment. In the normal operation of the method it will be understood that the wheel blank such as shown in Figure 4 will, when subjected to the rolling pressures described, be transformed into the cross sectional shape shown in Figure 5.

During' this transformation, conjoint action of the rolls 26 and 28 and the backing up roll 50 simultaneously exerts rolling pressures on opposite faces of the web and inner annular face of the 'rim while at the same time the annular bead 58 forces the peripheral annular median portion of the rim body inwardly againstl the rolling forces exerted on the web and rim. These combined forces thus subject the fibers of the rim and the outer portion of the web to a vigorous rolling compression which is eiiective to bring about a plastic iiow and to toughten or density the peripheral rim of the wheel.

While I have described quite precisely the speciiic steps which a reduction to practice has shown to be desirable and have illustrated a speciiic type of wheel rolling mill apparatus of preferred design, it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In the manufacture of sheave wheels, the method which comprises forming a blank consisting of relatively thick hub and rim portions yconnected by a thinner web portion, and simultaneously subjecting opposite sides of both the web and rim portions to rolling pressure while at the same time forcing an annular median portion of the rim body inwardly with a rolling pressure, thus forming an annular groove in the blank and working the bers of the rim body inwardly.

2.\In the manufacture of sheave wheels, the method which comprises forming a blank consisting of relatively thick hub and rim portions connected by a thinner web portion, exerting rolling pressures on opposite faces of the web and on the inner annular faces of the rim while simultaneously forcing the peripheral annular median portion of the rim body inwardly against ,E

the said rolling forces exerted on `the web and rim to thus form an annular groove and subject the fibers of the rim and outer portion of the web to a vigorous rolling inwardly directed compression to thereby toughten the peripheral grooved portion of the sheave wheel being formed.

3. In the manufacture of sheave wheels, the method which comprises forming a blank consisting of relatively thick hub and rim portions 'connected by a thinner web portion, confining the outer annular region of the rim against plastic flow or lateral movement beyond predetermined limits, exerting rolling pressures on opposite faces of the web and the inner annular faces of the rim, supporting the blank in a manner to permit rotation about an axis centered with the rim, and forcing the annular central peripheral portion of the face of theA rim inwardly while the blank is rotating on said axis and while the said outer region is confined as before mentioned. WILLIAM A. ASHTON. 

